TOURIST INFORMATION
Duty Free Items:
There are many items which have been made duty free in India. The Indian
Govt. has clearly defined the list of items, including the size, which can
be imported duty free by travellers as part of baggage. The existing
definition was generally vague and defined personal effects to mean, "such
as clothings and other articles, new or used, which a tourist may
personally and reasonably require taking into account of circumstances for
his visit but excluding all merchandise imported for commercial purpose,"
which gave the customs officials certain amount of leeway in clearances.
According to revenue department officials, a similar definition existed
under the Tourist Baggage Rules. These rules were replaced by Baggage
Rules in 1994. The said rules did not specify the list of items, but
permitted customs officials to determine 'personal effects' subject to
discretion. This led to non-standardisation of items permitted to be
imported which revenue department officials suspect led to revenue
leakage. For instance, if a camcorder was disallowed to be brought in as
part of baggage a 1.2 per cent duty, which amounts to Rs 12,000 would be
payable on it. So also in the case of other items. Simultaneously, in
order to reduce harassment to travellers, the department has ruled that
customs officials would not be required to establish whether the item is
new or used, so long as the item imported is still not in its original
package, which can be immediately disposed. The definition of personal
effects under the old Tourist Baggage rules included 14 items. Laptops
have now been included by the revenue department in the new list. This
inclusion is based on the commitments made by the revenue department to
the Estimates Committee of the 10th Lok Sabha, demanding a review of the
Baggage Rules in favour of importing notebooks.
The list of items specified includes:
Personal jewellery
One camera with filmrolls not exceeding 20
One video camera/camcoder with accessories and with video cassette not
exceeding 12
One pair of binoculars
One portable colour television not exceeding 15 cms in size
One music system, including compact disc player
One portable typewriter
One permabulator
One tent and other camping equipment
One computer (laptop/notebook)
One electronic diary
One portable wireless receiving set (transistor radio)
Professional equipments, instruments and apparatus of appliances
including professional audio/video equipments; Sports equipment such as
one fishing outfit, one sporting firearm and fifty cartridges, one
non-powered bicycles, one canoe or range less than 51 metres long, one
pair of skids, two tennis racket, one gold set (14 pieces. with a dozen
golf balls) One cell phone.
Know more about this Package !!!
279/A, Masjid Moth, South Extention - II
New Delhi - 110 049 (INDIA)
Tel : +91-11-4164 3999 / 2626 2004
Fax : +91-11-2625 9695
Email : info@indiainfoweb.com
Home | Attractions | Destinations | Hotels | Tour Packages | Travel Agents | Help DeskDisclaimer | Privacy Policy | Old Site | Feedback / Contact Us
Copyright © 2007 India Infoweb. All Rights Reserved.